What are the vision requirements to fly for the United States Coast Guard? Is it possible to get flight school straight out of the Academy? Does your major matter in determining that?
The Academy is currently sending between 10-15% of the graduating class directly to flight school...your academic performance (more than actual major) is a significant factor in selection. Standards are below...
FIGURE 3-C-3
MINIMUM DISTANT VISUAL ACUITY REQUIREMENTS
CATEGORY VISION
A. Aviation Personnel: Uncorrected Corrected
1. Candidates for Flight Training 20/50 20/20
2. Pilot, Class 20/200 20/20
3. Pilot, Class 1R (as waivered) 20/20
4. Designated Flight Officer 20/400 20/20
5. Flight Surgeon,
Aviation Medical Examiner or
Aviation MEDEVAC Specialist 20/400 20/20
6. Candidate for Aircrew 20/100 20/20
7. Designated Aircrew 20/200 20/20
8. Landing Signal Officer (LSO) 20/200 20/20
9. Air Traffic Controller Candidate 20/100 20/20
10.Designated Air Traffic Controller 20/200 20/20
B. Officers (Note 1):
1. Commissioned or Warrant in the 20/400 20/20
USCG or USCGR
2. Appt in the USCG of Licensed 20/400 20/20
Officers of the Merchant Marine
3. Direct Commission in the USCGR 20/400 20/20
4. Appointment as Cadet 20/400 20/20
5. Precommissioning of Cadets 20/400 20/20
6. OCS Candidates 20/400 20/20
7. Precommissioning of Officer 20/400 20/20
Candidates
8. Diving Candidates 20/100 20/20
9. Designated Diver 20/200 20/20
C. Enlisted Personnel:
1. Enlistment in the USCG or USCGR See 3.D.9 (Note 2)
2. Diving Candidates (Note 3) 20/20
3. Designated Diver (Note 3) 20/20
Notes:
1. Refractive error does not exceed plus or minus 8.0 diopters spherical equivalent (sphere + 1/2 cylinder) and that astigmatism does not exceed 3.00 diopters and anisometropia does not exceed 3.50 diopters.
2. Corrected vision shall be 20/40 in the better eye and 20/70 in the other or 20/30 in the better eye and 20/100 in the other, or 20/20 in the better and 20/400 in the other. (Note that near visual acuity must correct to at least 20/40 in the better eye.) Refractive error does not exceed plus or minus 8.00 diopters spherical equivalent (sphere + 1/2 cylinder) and ordinary spectacles do not cause discomfort by reason of ghost images, prismatic displacement, etc.; error must not have been corrected by
orthokeratology or keratorefractive surgery.
3. 20/100 in the better eye and 20/200 in the worse eye.
Chapter 3. C. Page 41
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